New Blog Address

I took a break from finishing Chasm just long enough to integrate my blog into my website. As a result, I will no longer be updating this site. Instead, you can find me here.
I hope you do!

Chasm Update

Book 2 of the Gateway Trilogy, Chasm is currently with Beta Readers!

I like to get the opinion of readers in between passes by my editor, as they are ultimately who decide whether my book is successful. (Both in sales, and more importantly, in conveying the themes I'm trying to express.) It's in the "polishing" stage, meaning the story line is set, but I'm working on transitions, readability, etc... Once that's done, it goes to the proofreader.

Just thought I'd keep you posted. The book launch party is August 11th, and the novel will be available via Amazon by September 1, 2012.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Chasm

That's the name of Book 2 in the Gateway Trilogy. :)

It will be available September 1st. I'm currently finishing it up and working on getting the book cover together. In the meantime, if you haven't yet read Gateway, it's FREE from now until 6/30!

Checking In...

I'm under the gun to get Book 2 finished for a September release, so I've been staying in touch mostly via Twitter, but I thought I'd give a quick shout to my blog readers.
The book is coming along nicely and I think you all are really going to like it. The demons that escaped in Gateway are wreaking havoc on Los Angeles, and Ember manages to get herself into even more trouble when she travels to other Gates. It should be a fun ride--can't wait to share it with you!

Kat on Assignment

Check out the newest post on the Companion Blog to The Gateway Series. Kat is on a solo assignment and isn't loving it.

Kat on Assignment Pt. 1

2012, Week 1

Just thought I'd check in now that we've made it through the first week of the new year. I don't know about you guys, but I'm thriving! 
I've set up an awesome little writing nook for myself which I love. I've started the process of purging things I don't need anymore--like my old desk. I realized that unlike when I used to do a lot of video editing for my short films, I simply don't like working at a desk. Whenever I go to a coffee shop to write, I'm always choosing a comfy armchair. So, out with the desk and in with a new armchair! 
I've also started a new writing practice which seems to be working for me. I have a serious information addiction. I used to wake up and check my email and Facebook before even getting out of bed! (And I know I'm not the only one...) 
Now my alarm goes off at 7 am and I don't even look at my phone. Except to turn off the alarm, of course ;) I sit up in bed, still sleepy eyed, and bang out 500 words. They don't have to be 500 good words, in fact they are more of a brain drain than anything else, but I don't even make coffee until those words are done. 
I've found this to be so helpful. One, it helps me get onto the page anything that's running around in my brian: stuff I need to do, something I dreamt about, etc. But after a couple hundred words, I start thinking about what I'm going to be writing that day. I used to do that before, but not until I sat down to write, "officially" for the day. I'm liking this way so much better because I find that I get excited for what's to come, so that instead of it being a chore to sit down and start writing, I'm eager to. 
So, I get the 500 words done--some dross, some a helpful map of where my writing day is headed. Then I feed both of my addictions; caffeine (only one cup per day) and information. I spend 30 or so minutes catching up on email, Facebook, Twitter, and curating my ScoopIt pages. If I'm hungry, I have some breakfast while I do it. 

Companion Blog to The Gateway Trilogy

As promised, here's the new blog for all things related to Gateway:

Companion Blog to The Gateway Series

I'll be posting weekly so check back regularly! On the blog now: Taren's filed notes from his time spend inside Windsor, including when he met Callie and Ember for the first time.

New Developments in the Gateway Series

Over a vegan breakfast burrito my friend, Erin helped me formulate a solution for what's been a source of frustration for me. The problem:

What direction this blog should take and how I can use it as an interactive experience for fans of Gateway?

The solution:

I stop trying to do that with this blog.

Lemme s'plain: 

I'm a bit of non-linear thinker. I know a little bit about a lot of things and a lot about a few things. But the things I already know about, (say, being vegan) isn't really something I feel called to blog about, nor does it have anything to do with my writing career which happens to be my primary focus. But blogging about my writing process is only interesting to fellow writers, and quite frankly, there are plenty of others out there already doing a fine job of it. 

When I ask myself what I really want to write about, the answer is: 

I want to write about the world inhabited by the characters of The Gateway Series. I had always planned that the main story would be told in a trilogy, leaving open the possibility to write additional volumes focusing on Callie and/or Kat. Many of you have responded to those characters and have asked if you'll be reading more about them in the coming volumes. The answer is a definite yes, but why wait? 

My initial intention was that their side novels would take place at the conclusion of The Gateway Series, or possibly running parallel (depending on how much of their stories make it to the final versions of the trilogy.) But when trying to make characters that come off the page as though living, breathing entities, authors write all sorts of backstories, creating histories that never appear in the novel but make the story so much richer overall. I figure, why not start a new blog dedicated solely to revealing things like: Callie's life before Windsor, Kat's first mission as a Guardian, and Taren's point of view of the first time he met Ember.

So.

I'll maintain this blog as sporadically as ever, and in the meantime, I'll be starting another blog dedicated solely to The Gateway Series. And that one, I promise I will update regularly.

I'll be announcing the new site soon, and look forward to peeling back the curtain and giving you a glimpse of the Gateway world through the eyes of some of your favorite characters. 

Scoop It!

I just discovered this fantastic site: Scoop.it. I love having a place to gather content on specific topics and organize them in a beautiful layout. I thought I'd share the free service with you all and if you're interested in seeing what I'm busy scooping, my first topic is  Creative Productivity. Enjoy, and if you start your own topics, let me know!

Keep in Touch!

Hey lovelies...

I've been neck deep working on a film and now that it's almost over, (Thank. God.) I'll be neck deep in revisions of the second novel in the The Gateway Series. Sadly, updating my blog has taken a back seat, but I still want to connect with you! Twitter seems the easiest way to do that, so feel free to say hello via: @GarnerChristina.

What to do when Everything Sucks

Hell if I know. And I suppose it isn't everything. I mean, it's never everything, right? Because I'm still breathing.
But I'm working on a movie that is sucking the soul right out of me with a few people I cannot wait to be away from. This will be the first wrap party I won't attend.
Alas, it's only 10 more days. 10 more days and I can dive back into Book 2 of the Gateway Series. I was so close to finishing before I took on this project so I'm looking at a release in early February, which I am very excited about.
On the plus side, this has been yet another opportunity for me to look at what I expect from people versus what they seem willing and/or able to give me with regards to loyalty and what I consider the basics of human decency.
My mantra (besides, "Only X number of days left!") has been, "There is a place inside of me that this place cannot touch." I'm happy to report that it's true. Which, I suppose proves that not *everything* sucks. :)

Book Bloggers

Or, as I like to call them, my heroes.

I just want to say thank you to all of the amazing book bloggers who have not only taken the time to review Gateway, but were willing to give a self-published e-book a shot. All authors depend on reviews and word of mouth, but with indie authors that need is greatly magnified. Even were a reviewer to not care for my book I would appreciate their willingness to read it!

I believe in my novel and the series it kicks off, but knowing there are others out there who have enjoyed it is inspiring. Knowing they'll take the time to tell others is absolutely fabulous!

Thanks again!

I'm not Gonna Lie...

It's been rough going this past week. I came back from Europe feeling invigorated and inspired, and then... I'm not sure what happened. Maybe it was just life that happened. I started feeling less than thrilled with what I was writing. Then I had a relationship rift I needed to heal. You know how draining that can be. The next day came the $1100 tax bill from incorrectly reporting my earnings in 2009.

I gave myself a couple of days to check out and recover, but it's been a few, and I haven't. I still feel blah and I still am not excited about where my story is going, even though logically, I think it's going in the right direction. I've just lost the juice, the passion to get the words down on paper and I'm afraid that I might not find it anytime soon.

And it's not just a passion for writing, I'm kind of feeling turned off by most things, which is a red alert for someone who suffers from depression. I'm doing my best to weather the storm and I hope it doesn't last too long.

Hello, World. Did you miss me?

Hey all! I'm back from my "Take Mom to Europe/Research Books 2 and 3 of The Gateway Series" trip. Stay tuned for new posts and updates about the next book. For now, here's your first look at Book 2:

Get and Stay Motivated!

I tend to vacillate between bursts of creativity and periods of sloth. My goal is to lessen the latter and increase the former. In that vein, here are a few tips to help you get going on whatever project is in front of you:

Find a Mantra
"We are what repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
Aristotle said that, and I think he's on to something. My first tip is to find or create a mantra or slogan that spurs you to action. My uncle, a veteran marathon runner well into his 70's had a mantra he used whenever a race got tough, "It's against my religion to walk downhill." The first race (only 12 miles, not a marathon, I confess) he and I did together, he shared that nugget of wisdom with me, and I use it to this day.
What mantra might work for you? Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

• Time is precious; I use mine wisely.
• Life is short; I do what I love!
• If it supports my vision, I do it.
• I take the next right step.

Focus on the Why
Why is this goal important? What changes do you hope to see in your internal and external worlds because you've achieved it? What about it resonates with you and makes your heart beat a little faster?
Focusing on why we want to do something can help us stay on track

On Scrapping Most of My First Draft

I was talking with a good friend about how I wouldn't be using the majority of what I'd written for the first draft of Book 2 and she reminded me of a story about an artist (who's name escapes me) that would paint an entire tree, even if the final piece would only depict a few limbs. When asked why he would do all of that extra work he said that if he didn't paint the whole tree, how would he know where the branches belonged?


This was comforting, because I know that even if I don't use much of what I've written, it all serves the overall story. I got a better understanding of some new characters, and found ways to increase tension in the plot. Ultimately, I'm changing things because I think it will make for a better novel, which makes the effort worth it.


So, I'm busy with draft 2, even if half of it will really be a first draft. Wish me luck!

Things are Looking Up

I feel better than I have in a while. I'm not gonna lie--it was touch and go for a little while a few weeks back. I had a change in medication and it threw me for a loop that lasted a couple of weeks. It was at the worst possible time, too, (is there ever a good time for extreme nausea and moderate depression?) because I'm working hard to make my deadline of having Book 2 of The Gateway Series out by November. It's the tightest deadline I've ever held myself to, so being sidelined for two weeks was the last thing I needed.


What I want to focus on though, is even with feeling both mentally and physically awful, I did my best to stay centered. I kept my awareness--as best I could--on the fact that this would pass, and sooner or later I would feel ready to be part of the world. (There was a one week period where I didn't leave the house--when I felt up to eating, I ordered in.)


I think that shift in focus--from it will always be this way to this too shall pass--made for an easier re-entry back into the world when I was up for it. Although I was still plagued by the feelings of "I'm a loser" that often accompanies a bout of depression that seems based in nothing, I was able to hold those feelings somewhat at bay. And the truth was, there was a reason. A change in medication always precipitates side-effects of some kind. It's just hard to accept that sometimes when I'm in the throws of an episode.


In keeping with my goal of progress not perfection, I'm taking this as a win. It was a rough couple of weeks, but I'm back, I'm writing 3-4k words a day and am preparing for a trip to Europe with my mother. (During which I will be researching Books 2 and 3 which take place almost exclusively in France and Italy.)


I'm not sure if anyone else is interested in the inner workings of my mind and/or my struggles with depression, but it is no secret that many creative types have suffered similarly, so I thought I would share it on the off chance it would resonate with some of you.


Here's to hoping I continue to feel great, and hoping all of you do, too!

Last Minute Travel

I'm headed back to Europe! Books 2 and 3 of The Gateway Series partially take place in France and Italy and I'm planning to do some research while I'm there. I love my job :)

70% off on Gateway

For two weeks, I'm putting Gateway (normally priced at $2.99) on sale for just $.99! Buy it at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Gateway Giveaway

Here's your chance to win a copy of Gateway. Enter here:

Irresistible Reads: Interview & Giveaway (International) with Christina Garner

Go for the free book, stay for the interview ;)